Taliban wound Afghan female senator in ambush

The Taliban ambushed a convoy of a female Afghan senator on Wednesday, seriously wounding her in the attack and killing her 8-year-old daughter and a bodyguard, officials said.

Senator Rouh Gul Khirzad's husband, son and another daughter were also wounded in the attack in the Muqur district of Gazni province, according to Deputy Governor Mohammad Ali Ahmadi.

Ahmadi said the ambush took place on the main highway from Kabul to the southern city of Kandahar.

Khirzad was traveling from Kabul with her family to their home province of Nimroz for the holiday of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, said fellow Senator Mohammad Alam.

Taliban often stage attacks along the highway in Gazni and Wardak provinces, where they have a strong presence

Alam said Khirzad's eight-year-old daughter and her bodyguard were killed in the attack. He added that Khirzad has been hospitalized with serious injuries. There was no immediate word on the condition of her husband, son and other daughter, Alam said.

Khirzad was elected to Afghanistan's 102-member upper house in late 2010. She is the head of defense and internal security commission.

The lower house is made up of 245 members.

The upper house has a regulatory function, approving laws generated by the lower house. After upper house approval, they need the endorsement of the president.